American Airlines Puts Legroom-Crunching Project Oasis On Hold

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American Airlines’ President Robert Isom said Tuesday morning at Wolfe Research Global Transportation Conference, AA has now put the Project Oasis retrofit project on hold on its Boeing 737s. But, this move isn’t being made because of customer feedback.

With its fleet of 24 Boeing 737 MAX grounded during the busy travel season, American Airlines has had to cancel around 115 flights per day through August 19. So, AA is pausing the Project Oasis 737 retrofit to reduce cancellations as much as possible. Fewer planes down for weeks to get the interior redone means more planes in the air flying passengers.

Here’s why this pause is good news for American Airlines flyers. While Project Oasis has some benefits (e.g. power outlets larger overhead bins), AA is taking this opportunity to cram more seats into each aircraft, reducing pitch throughout the plane. None of the retrofit planes will have inflight entertainment screens when they’re done, even if they had perfectly-good IFE screens before.

This slide is how AA introduced the project to its investors in September 2017 (Image by American Airlines)

The first-class cabin is also getting the squeeze as part of Project Oasis. AA is pulling out its aging but generally comfortable 737 first class seats and installing the same type of seat that it uses in premium economy on international flights. And it’s also cutting the pitch between 1-3 inches per first-class row.

Passengers have voiced their displeasure with the comfort of these seats, the lack of under-seat storage and the lack of inflight entertainment screens. On the retrofit 737-800, the seats don’t even have a seatback tablet holder for those that BYOD (Bring Your Own Device).

Many American Airlines frequent flyers would be very happy if the airline were to rethink its Project Oasis retrofit plans. However, an about-face would surely be costly for AA, since it already has retrofit 71 Boeing 737-800 and likely has contracts in place for suppliers to continue Project Oasis.

And although Project Oasis is on hold for the Boeing 737-800, an American Airlines spokesperson confirmed that the A321 retrofits are still scheduled to start this fall. AA is likely to wait until the 737 MAX returns to service before starting this retrofit.

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